Chapter 20 – Xu Da Spits Blood: Are They Trying to Kill Me?

Xu Da glared at the three of them, his face so red it looked ready to bleed.

"Mediocre soldiers!"

"Go work in logistics raising pigs? Why don't you just go slaughter them while you're at it — you're an absolute disgrace!"

Company Commander Zhang Jiantao's expression was equally ugly.

In all his years leading soldiers, he had never once heard of anyone voluntarily requesting to go work in logistics raising pigs.

And not just one soldier like that — three of them at once, all from First Company!

They'd managed to embarrass themselves all the way to their grandmother's doorstep!

Lü Qingsong's face was full of awkwardness. Had it been anyone else, he would have erupted in anger long ago.

But Lin Hui was different — he was the old commander's son.

Lü Qingsong could only swallow his irritation and ask, "I'm genuinely curious. Everyone else wants to get assigned to a good company and develop their careers. How did you three end up wanting to go raise pigs in logistics?"

Lin Hui puffed out his chest. "Report! A revolutionary soldier is like a brick — place him wherever he's needed. In my heart, no post in the military is ever higher or lower than another."

"Everyone's scrambling to get into a good company, everyone wants to show off. But then who raises the pigs in logistics? Who looks after the chickens? What about the geese?"

"So I've decided to sacrifice myself and leave the opportunity to others. I'll plant my feet firmly in logistics and raise the fattest, finest pigs for our hardworking soldiers!"

The entire crowd burst into laughter. A few people doubled over completely, unable to hold themselves together.

"Who is this guy? He's hilarious — I can't take it, my stomach hurts."

"You don't know him? That's Lin Hui — he came first in the recruit company the last two assessments."

"No way — the top recruit voluntarily applied to raise pigs. That's… that's just too noble!"

Up in the stands, Lü Qingsong's mouth twitched violently as he listened to the murmurs.

This was his first time dealing with the old commander's son, and he hadn't expected the young man's mind to work in such a peculiar way.

Yet he couldn't find a single argument to refute him.

He laughed awkwardly. "Alright, alright — well said. 'A revolutionary soldier is like a brick, place him wherever he's needed.' This young comrade makes a fair point: no post in the military is higher or lower than another."

"Whether it's logistics or the Blade Company — both are equally vital to the unit!"

"After all, without pork, wouldn't our soldiers go hungry?"

"Ha ha ha…"

The recruits roared with laughter.

Even Lin Hui had to admire this leader's skill — with just a few sentences, he had smoothed the whole thing over. The man was a pro.

Zhou Zhongyi shot a fierce glare at Zhang Jiantao.

They'd just received praise, and before it even had time to warm up, this had happened!

Zhang Jiantao felt utterly stifled inside. He jabbed an angry finger at Xu Da. "Take a good look at the soldiers you've been training!"

Xu Da felt like he wanted to die. He was desperate to march over and sew Lin Hui's mouth shut.

And Wang Yong and Chen Erhu, you two idiots — what were you thinking, jumping on the bandwagon like that?

Lü Qingsong waved a hand. "Actually, each of your ideas has merit. The military is a massive machine, and every gear inside it — large or small — matters."

"No matter what post you're assigned to, you're contributing your share to the nation and the unit."

"Alright, enough talk. We'll now proceed to the examination and assessment."

Zhou Zhongyi stepped forward. "All companies, attention. The recruit training assessment now begins. Everyone will be led by their respective company commanders to the designated assessment areas!"

"Yes, sir!"

Each company commander issued orders, and the formation quickly dispersed.

First Company, led by Zhang Jiantao, moved to the eastern side of the training ground and began the assessment.

Zhang Jiantao fixed his gaze on the three of them and said in a furious tone, "Once you're assigned to your regular units, whether you want to raise pigs or till the fields is none of my business. But during this assessment, you absolutely cannot drop the ball."

"This is the test of three months of hard work. It's your chance to prove your worth. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone roared in unison.

"Spread out — prepare for the five-kilometer run!"

Everyone immediately spread out and took their positions on the track.

Xu Da walked up to Lin Hui, fuming. "What were you three doing just now? Wanting to raise pigs — how did you even come up with that? Do you think you're funny? Entertaining?"

"Let me tell you — only lousy soldiers, only poor soldiers, get sent to raise pigs!"

"A real soldier should be aiming for an outstanding unit!"

Lin Hui smiled. "Squad Leader, the Division Commander didn't say that just now. Aren't you contradicting him?"

Xu Da was completely shut down by that single sentence: Damn it! Now he's lecturing me?

He snapped furiously, "Don't give me that smirking face!"

"I don't care what's going on in your heads. During the assessment, none of you are allowed to drop the ball. Otherwise, I won't let it slide!"

"Understood!"

The three nodded quickly.

But the moment Xu Da turned away, they exchanged glances and grinned slyly.

They genuinely weren't planning to drop the ball — they just intended to perform at their normal, average level.

Zhang Jiantao blew his whistle, and everyone surged forward with full effort.

Since this was the most critical assessment, all the squad leaders stood on the track, cheering their soldiers on.

"Run faster!"

"Open up your stride — all of you, push! Run faster!"

"Spread out the gap — come on!"

While the other squad leaders cheered for their own groups, Xu Da's brow was already knotted into a tight frown.

First Squad was not charging to the front as he had expected.

They were sitting squarely in the middle of the pack — neither leading nor trailing.

"Old Xu, what's going on?" the Third Squad Leader sidled up and asked curiously.

The Sixth Squad Leader was equally puzzled. "First Squad Leader, your squad doesn't usually run like this. Did someone eat something bad yesterday and get an upset stomach?"

Xu Da's face turned a deep, suppressed red.

In every previous assessment, he had been the one basking in glory.

Now, suddenly slapped in the face like this, he was absolutely livid.

"Run, damn it — what are you all doing?!"

"Huddling together for warmth? Get past them — move!"

Xu Da screamed himself hoarse, his voice nearly giving out.

The soldiers of First Squad heard their squad leader's voice and startled.

Every pair of eyes instinctively turned toward Lin Hui.

After all, he was the backbone of the group. Even though this was the final assessment, First Squad had always operated as a unit.

So everyone had fallen into the habit of running behind Lin Hui.

"Run — come on, run!"

Lin Hui glanced over at the edge of the track, where Xu Da was hollering like a man possessed.

Sure, this guy had tried to manipulate him and Wang Yong into competing against each other, hoping to use their scores to secure his own stay in the military.

But over this period of time, Lin Hui had done his homework. He knew Xu Da had come from the countryside, had a limited education, and that what he'd done wasn't entirely without reason.

Still, Lin Hui only wanted to live the slacker life. He had absolutely no interest in earning a top ranking.

In the military, the more outstanding you were, the more hardship you had to endure.

Lin Hui had suffered plenty in his previous life — he had no intention of suffering here too.

He turned back to the others and said, "Alright, you all go ahead and run. Stop following behind me."

Everyone stared at him blankly. "Don't we always run together?"

Lin Hui waved them off. "That was before — that was to avoid getting chewed out by the squad leader. My goals are different from yours. I just want to get assigned to some ordinary company, coast through two years, and go back to enjoying life."

"Don't waste your time following my lead. Go on — if you've got the ability, stop hiding it. Run."

The others looked at each other. "So… we won't hold back?"

With that, Ma Xiaoshan shot forward like a rocket.

The others quickly picked up speed and surged past as well.

Their reasons for joining the military were genuinely different from Lin Hui's. Slacking off during regular training was one thing, but now that it was the assessment, they needed to give it everything they had.

None of them wanted to end up feeding pigs. Getting assigned to a better company meant better prospects.

Lin Hui looked back in surprise at the only two still trailing behind him — Wang Yong and Chen Erhu. "Why haven't you two run off yet?"

Wang Yong grinned. "I don't have any grand reason. I just can't stand that little punk Xu Da. He's been running me like a dog this whole time — I want him to suffer a little."

Lin Hui was speechless. But after spending this time with him, he understood — this guy was a stubborn contrarian through and through. He responded to softness, not force.

Xu Da had used entirely the wrong approach with him.

There was no point trying to talk him out of it. The guy was a one-track mind.

Lin Hui looked at Erhu. "What about you? Why aren't you running?"

Chen Erhu grinned, flashing two rows of big teeth. "Brother Hui, I'm your man. Wherever you go, I go. Don't you try to chase me off."

Lin Hui's forehead was covered in metaphorical black lines. This kid had really latched onto him, hadn't he?

Fine. Whatever. Just run like this, then.

Lin Hui jogged at a steady, even pace, quietly smirking to himself. "Dad, you forced me into the military — fine, I'll give you that. But if you think you can make me suffer and grind myself down here, you've got the wrong idea."

"I'm the one wearing this uniform. I'll do things my way. What are you going to do about it?"

"Heh. In two years, I'll walk right back out and live however I please."

Seeing a good number of soldiers in the pack accelerate and break away, Xu Da was so excited he nearly jumped.

These kids had been holding back all along, saving their energy for a burst at the end.

But when he saw Lin Hui, Wang Yong, and Chen Erhu still plodding along in the middle of the pack, he instantly erupted again.

Chen Erhu was one thing.

But Lin Hui and Wang Yong were among the top performers in the entire recruit intake!

These two still hadn't made a move — what were they playing at? Were they actually serious about going to logistics to raise pigs?

Xu Da clenched his fists, so furious he wanted to curse out loud.

Up in the stands, Lü Qingsong watched from a distance, brow deeply furrowed. "Zhou Zhongyi, didn't you tell me those two soldiers from First Company were among the top in the entire Recruit Training Regiment — that they'd even broken multiple records?"

"These are the promising recruits you told me about? Are you pulling my leg?"

Zhou Zhongyi's face fell. "Division Commander, their results in the previous assessments were genuinely outstanding. I don't know what's gotten into them today. Maybe they're not feeling well?"

Lü Qingsong's expression was full of anger, but he said nothing more.

Soon, the five-kilometer run was over.

Lin Hui and Wang Yong had barely scraped past the passing mark. Chen Erhu had nearly failed to qualify — it was only thanks to the other two pulling him through at the critical moment.

"What on earth are you doing?"

Xu Da rushed over to the two of them, demanding answers in a furious voice.

Lin Hui's eyes darted around, and he said with a grin, "Squad Leader, I think it might be because the training over the past while was too intense — I'm seriously overtaxed and haven't recovered yet. But don't worry, I definitely passed!"

Wang Yong chimed in, "Squad Leader, you know me — I don't have great natural talent. I pushed myself too hard chasing after Lin Hui these past weeks, and now every bone in my body aches. I couldn't go faster even if I wanted to."

"But don't worry — I passed too!"

Xu Da's eyes were as red as a rabbit's.

Passed?

With scores like that, you two have the nerve to open your mouths?

Before Xu Da could even get a word out, a shout rang out from across the field: "Next round of assessment — get ready!"

He ground his teeth and glared at the two of them. "Round two. You'd better get your heads in the game and stop dropping the ball!"

"We'll do our best!"

Lin Hui and Wang Yong nodded with sly grins.

One of them was thinking about coasting through two years and going back out to enjoy the good life. The other was thinking about getting discharged, working at an electronics factory, and getting back at Xu Da along the way.

As for Chen Erhu, his plan was even simpler: cling to Lin Hui's leg and never let go.

That way, someone would look out for him, and no one would bully him.

Soon, everyone gathered back on the track.

Zhang Jiantao looked at Lin Hui and Wang Yong and felt a pain in his liver. "Next event — tactical assessment. Everyone, get down!"

Everyone immediately hit the ground and waited for the order.

Xu Da stood to the side, silently praying: Please, no more disasters!

These two had solid tactical movement skills.

In the last assessment, they had even broken the entire regiment's record.

"Begin!"

At the command, everyone launched forward in a low crawl, advancing rapidly.

Everyone, that is, except Lin Hui, Wang Yong, and Chen Erhu — who moved as though their brains had slowed to a crawl.

By the time everyone else had already covered several meters, the three of them were only just getting started.

Xu Da's eyes blazed with fury. He could have happily grabbed a rifle and let loose on all three of them…